COLUMBIA, S.C. – The UNCG softball team split a doubleheader defeating Presbyterian, 5-4, and dropping a 13-0 contest to host South Carolina on the final day of the Carolina Classic Sunday at the Carolina Softball Stadium.

The Spartans with the split sit at 1-3 on the season. Presbyterian fell to 0-4 and South Carolina improved to 3-1 on the season.

UNCG 5, Presbyterian 4

In game one, senior Katelyn Bedwell (Surrey, B.C./Elgin Park) drove home the game-winning two-run double in the sixth inning as the Spartans earned a comeback victory against the Blue Hose.

Sophomore Lindsay Thomas (Irvine, Calif./Northwood) finished the game 2-for-4 with a run scored. Junior Tatiana Alcala (Oxnard, Calif./Pacifica) was 2-for-3 with two hits.

In the bottom of the sixth, UNCG was down 4-3 before a two out rally game them the lead. Sophomore Allison Geiner (Raleigh, N.C./Middle Creek) singled to shortstop to start the comeback with two outs. Lindsay Thomas singled to center to setup Bedwell’s heroics. Bedwell delivered a clutch two out two-run double into the gap in right center scoring both Geiner and Thomas to give the Spartans a 5-4 lead.

Senior Raeanne Hanks (Rainier, Ore./Rainier Senior) closed the door in the seventh to earn her first win of the season. Hanks went the distance allowing six hits on two earned runs with a season-high 11 strikeouts. Sydney Seigler took the loss after allowing two earned runs in three innings in relief for Presbyterian.

Presbyterian took an early lead after Jill McLean started the game with a leadoff triple to left centerfield. After a strikeout, Shelby Petik reached on an error. Miranda Rogers followed with a groundout to the pitcher that brought home McLean to give PC the 1-0 advantage.

The Blue Hose added two more runs on three hits to take a 3-0 lead. Abby Allen worked a walk and McLean laid down a bunt single to put runners on first and second. Lindsay Thomas threw out pinch runner Alyssa Goodin trying to steal third for the first out. Erin Ruff grounded out to the pitcher and Petik followed with a walk. With two outs, Rogers singled to shallow center to plate two runs.

The Spartans rallied with a three-run fourth inning on four hits, including a RBI double from freshman Tory Wright (Potomac Falls, Va./Dominion). Sophomore Danielle Vega started the inning with a single to right field. Pinch runner freshman Stephanie McKinney (Clemmons, N.C./West Forsyth) moved to second on a wild pitch. After a walk, Wright roped a shot to the centerfield wall to score McKinney from second. Alcala loaded the bases with an infield single. Pinch hitter Toni MacReynolds (Vienna, Va./James Madison) lined a RBI single over the head of the shortstop to tie the game at 3-3.

The contest remained tied until the sixth inning when PC took a 4-3 lead off a passed ball from the catcher. Jordan Ashley doubled to start the inning. Jen Marshall pinch ran and advanced to third on a wild pitch. After back-to-back strikeouts from Hanks, Marshall scored on a passed ball.

South Carolina 13, UNCG 0 (Five innings)

In game two, the Gamecocks used two big innings to run-rule the Spartans, 13-0, in five innings at the Carolina Softball Stadium.

Sophomore Nicole Thomas (Irvine, Calif./Northwood) took the loss to fall to 0-1 on the season. Freshman Nickie Blue improves to 3-0 after throwing three innings with no earned runs and two strikeouts.

South Carolina jumped out to a 5-0 lead after sending nine hitters to the plate in the first inning. Ansley Ard singled to third base to start the inning. The Gamecocks loaded the bases and freshman Kaylea Snaer lined a two-run single to make the score 2-0. Sarah Mooney scored two more with a double down the left field line giving South Carolina a 4-0 lead. Victoria Williams picked up the final RBI with a single to right center.

In the bottom of the third, the Gamecocks plated eight runs on four hits, including a three-run home run from Taylor Williams. Ashlyn Masters had a RBI double and Mooney earned her third RBI of the game with a single to centerfield.

UNCG couldn’t push any runs across to extend the game but Lindsay Thomas, Bedwell and junior Dominique Madruga (San Diego, Calif./Cathedral Catholic) each finished with a hit.

The Spartans will return home to host the Blue/Gold Challenge against Radford and Virginia next weekend at the UNCG Softball Stadium.

Be sure to follow all updates about the UNCG softball team on www.uncgspartans.com or on twitter @UNCGsports/@UNCGsoftball.